John Turnley
Encyclopedia
John Turnley was a Northern Irish Protestant politician and activist. Originally from a Unionist background he gradually was drawn to Irish nationalism and became a republican activist. He was assassinated in 1980.
officer, Turnley worked in Japan
, marrying a Japanese woman. In 1972 he returned to Northern Ireland
and joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP). The following year he stood unsuccessfully for the party in the local government elections for Larne borough council, and was also unsuccessful in North Antrim
at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
.
He took second place in an Assembly by-election the following year, and in 1975 he was elected to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
. He was also elected to Larne council in 1977, representing Larne 'Area A' which covered the Coast Road
areas.
Turnley became disillusioned with the SDLP in the late seventies and in October 1977 became a founder member of the newly formed Irish Independence Party
becoming the party chairman. He unsuccessfully contested North Antrim in the 1979 Westminster Election. He also became a leading member of the National H-Blocks Committee which sought to obtain political status for Irish Republican prisoners.
In June 1980, Turnley drove to Carnlough
village for a meeting with other councillors to discuss development in the area. When his car came to a halt three Ulster Defence Association
gunmen struck, firing numerous shots, hitting Turnley several times in the chest and body. He died in the ambulance on the way to Larne
's Moyle Hospital. Two years later, three men from Larne were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder.
One of the three men, Robert "Bobby" McConnell, later joined the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) and holds the position of vice chairman of the West Belfast Ulster Unionist Association. He was selected to run in the upcoming 2011 Belfast council elections (for the Court DEA).
Background
After serving as a British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer, Turnley worked in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, marrying a Japanese woman. In 1972 he returned to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
(SDLP). The following year he stood unsuccessfully for the party in the local government elections for Larne borough council, and was also unsuccessful in North Antrim
North Antrim (Assembly constituency)
North Antrim is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
-Seats summary:-Source:* http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa73.htm...
.
He took second place in an Assembly by-election the following year, and in 1975 he was elected to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention was an elected body set up in 1975 by the UK Labour government of Harold Wilson as an attempt to deal with constitutional issues surrounding the status of Northern Ireland....
. He was also elected to Larne council in 1977, representing Larne 'Area A' which covered the Coast Road
A2 road (Northern Ireland)
The A2 is a major road in Northern Ireland, a large section of which is often called the Antrim Coast Road because it follows the scenic coastline of County Antrim....
areas.
Turnley became disillusioned with the SDLP in the late seventies and in October 1977 became a founder member of the newly formed Irish Independence Party
Irish Independence Party
The Irish Independence Party was an nationalist political party in Northern Ireland, founded in October 1977 by Frank McManus and Fergus McAteer...
becoming the party chairman. He unsuccessfully contested North Antrim in the 1979 Westminster Election. He also became a leading member of the National H-Blocks Committee which sought to obtain political status for Irish Republican prisoners.
In June 1980, Turnley drove to Carnlough
Carnlough
Carnlough is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It has a picturesque harbour on the shores of Carnlough Bay. Carnlough is situated on the Coast Road beside the North Channel and at the foot of Glencloy, the second of the nine Glens of Antrim...
village for a meeting with other councillors to discuss development in the area. When his car came to a halt three Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
gunmen struck, firing numerous shots, hitting Turnley several times in the chest and body. He died in the ambulance on the way to Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
's Moyle Hospital. Two years later, three men from Larne were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder.
One of the three men, Robert "Bobby" McConnell, later joined the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
(UUP) and holds the position of vice chairman of the West Belfast Ulster Unionist Association. He was selected to run in the upcoming 2011 Belfast council elections (for the Court DEA).